Improvement in well-drilling machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. B. MORGAN AND HENRY KELLY, OF OSAGE, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WELL-DRILLING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 158,1 [3, dated December 22, 1874; application filed September 26, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY KELLY and- JOHN E. B. MORGAN, of Osage, in the county of Mitchell and State of Iowa, have invented a new and-Improved Well-Drillin g Machine, of which the following is a specification:

The first part of our invention consists of the mast over which the rope for working the drill-rod goes, constructed with a joint at or a little above the top of the frame, whereby it can be readily folded down on the frame, for convenience in storing and'moving the machine. In a-ll other machines of this character now in use the mast has to be unbolted and wholly removed from the frame for these purposes, which involves considerable labor, that is saved by our plan.

The second part of the invention consists of the swiveled pulley on the lever by which the drill-rod is worked, a guide-roller, and a drum for winding on the rope, together with a counter-shaft gearing with the drum, and having a crank, ratchet-wheel, and holding-pawl, all so contrived that the rope can be let out at any time, as the drill descends, without stopping the machine, whereby we save not'only the time but the labor of disconnecting the chain and adding sections of chains, which have always been done heretofore, the chain being attached directly to the lever.

The third part of the invention consists of the driving-shaft connected with the countershaft of the drum by a loose pulley, clutch, and belt or chain, so that whenever it is required to raise the drill-rod out of the well for pumping it out the power employedfor working it may be employed therefor merely by throwing in the clutch.

The fourth part of the invention consists of a stop-lever combined with the clutch-lever and the lever for working the drill-rod in such manner that when the clutch is thrown in gear the stop-lever arrests the drill-operating lever and holds it, so that the drill ceases working while being raised. 7

Figure l is an end elevation of our improved well-drilling machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the mast over which the drillrope B works for suspending the drill-rods the height required above the ground when raised up out of the well. This mast, being too high for convenience in moving the machine about and storing it, we construct with a joint at C, so that it can be folded down readily on the top of the frame. D is the lever by which the drill is raised and let fall in the regular operation of it, the lever being pressed down by the arms E on the driving-shaft F, in the same way as in other. machines of this character. Instead of attaching the rope to the lever by a chain, as in the common way, and lengthening it out from time to time by putting in additional sections of chains, we apply the pulley G to the lever, fitting it by a swivel, so that it can oscillate suitably to allow the rope to shift laterally along the drum H, which we provide, and wind the rope on it, the rope being as long as required for the greatest depth to be drilled, and between the drum and the pulley we arrange the guide Lfor directing the rope as it passes to and from the drum, said guide being mainly to run the rope parallel with the lever by which it works best; but the drum may be dispensed with. To the drum we connect a counter-shaft, J, for turning it to wind up and unwind the rope, using a handcrank at K for unwinding it; also, a ratchetwheel, L, and a pawl, M, for holding the drum; and at N we apply a pulley, over which works a belt or chain, 0, from a loose pulley, P, on the driving-shaft, to be ,used for raising the drill out of the well by the driving'power, the pulley P being provided with a clutch, Q, and shifting-lever it, for connecting an d disconnecting it with the shaft when desired; and in connection with the clutch-lever we have arranged a stop-lever, S, so that when the clutch is thrown in the stop-lever will swing over the leverD and hold it still while the drill-rod is being raised, and when the clutch is thrown out the lever S will swing back and release the lever. The holding-pawl Mis weighted, so that it will readily fall back and catch the ratchet after being tripped, whereby the attendant of the drill can let it down, as wanted from time to time, without going away from his place, by means of a cord attached to the pawl.

Having thus described our invention, we

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The mast A of a well-drilling; machine, having a joint, 0, at the top of the frame, or thereabout, arranged to allow the upper part of the mast to be folded down on the frame, in the manner described.

2. The drill-rope B, extending from the drill upward over a sheave-pulley in the top of the mast A, thence to the swiveled pulley G on the drill-operating lever D, then around the guideroller I, and then wound on the drum H.

3. The pulley G, swiveled t0 the lever D, in combination with said lever, the rope B, and drum H, substantially as specified.

4. The drum H, geared with the drivingshaft F, substantially as described, for utilizing the driving-power for raising the drill out of the well, and so as to be set in motion without stopping the machine, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of stop-lever S with clutch-lever R and lever D, substantially as specified.

JOHN E. B. MORGAN. HENRY KELLY.

Witnesses:

O. B. SHURTZ, J. E. Brsnor. 

